The Wilmingtonian., 1887-01-29
Home Rule for Domestic Affairs.


In all the amusing phases of the Dove
senatorial action upon the bill ofre-incorpor
ating the Wilmington Coal Gas Company 1 III
vote of seven to one. whereby it was passed
the prior history of its passage, when the
amendment "that the said Wilmington Goa
Gas Company shall not hereafter extend iri
street mains beyond their present limits no
shall alter or change the mains already lait
without haging previously obtained the con
sent of the chief engineer of the city OF vii
mington;" !" Which was agreed to by Messrs
Edward Belts and George Capelle, with Ed.
ward Ridgeley,- Esq, counsel, representing
the gas company; City Solicitor Turner and
Auditor Ball representing the City Council,
and when after this mutual agreement was
well understood the amendment was put and
rejected by viva voce vote, and lastly mira.
bile dictu the unamended bill was passed with
but one opposing vote
Now, without any special reference to the
bill under consideration it is very natural to
ask why in the presence of the delegated re-
presentives of City Council whose duties of
course encompass and comprise solely a pro
per care of the citizens rights and preroga-
tives why was this gerrymandering done ?
City Council is responsible for what looks
very like crooked action by it's delegation.
The action of City Councils representatives
at Dover upon the particular question was
definitely stated. and must have been So,
otherwise the representatives of the Goa
Gas Co., would not have made the conces
sion embodied in the amendment they gave
Jheir adhesion to. In other words both the
Coal Gas Company and the individuals re-
presenting City Council, in other words re-
presenting the interests of the citizens OF
Wilmington, agreed to the fact that certain
not be sarcificed, and that was only right
aud properly agreed to in the adoption of th,
amendment. The amended bill then wen,
before the Senate reported to them (?) ar
satisfactory to both contesting parties but
when put to the vote was ignonimiousl,
brown out. Now, there was plainly some
double dealing, for the Senators, having less
interest in Wilmington matters than the cit
zens of Wilmington would according to all
precedence, and logical right, allow them.
selves to be guided altogether by the Joint
wishes Of the opposing sides. The opponents
had agreed to compact. That compact
was the amendment. Why then on vote IL
the Senate was it to totally, unanimously, de.
teated. Either there is a clear indication
acre that "foreign' rule affects our domes.
tic, city, affairs or else there is too much
t'ifling and gerry Wandering with the bnsi-
ness matters Of Wilmington. Judging from
what appear to be the Explanations OF
Chancellor" Ridgeley, his assertions that
the City Council would be, by limiting GER
tain provogatives in powers enjoyed by the
Coal Gas Company, accepting certain liabili-
ties aud responsibilities now carried by the
company, the public can only think his words
sratuitous. The citizens of Wilmington
ook to City Council at all times and under
all circumstances to bear these responsible
lies, 1t is not only their special province
but their duty as supervisors of municipal
Affairs. The surprise to ali here is that the
City Fathers so readily relegate these re-
possibilities to other parties whereas they
should remain entirely under municipal
Whether the Senate reconsid-
'rs the question or not, the point here is of
'he looseness in which matters both legisla-
tive and municipal are handled.